When campus stir-fries eclipse spreadsheets

校园炒饭盖过了电子表格

Round Table China

2026-02-25

21 分钟
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单集简介 ...

In lecture halls once defined by PowerPoint slides and exam prep, a different kind of competition is unfolding. At several Chinese universities, the most sought-after electives are no longer traditional academic offerings, but hands-on courses in cooking, woodworking, beadwork, and car maintenance. / Is cucumber water the newest restaurant flex (16:14)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun.
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单集文稿 ...

  • Discussion keeps the world turning.

  • If you're listening to Roundtable, I'm Neil Holing, joined by Steve, and you should.

  • Coming up soon.

  • In lecture halls once defined by PowerPoint slides and exam prep,

  • a different kind of competition is unfolding.

  • At several Chinese universities, the most sought-after electives are no longer finance,

  • coding, or international law, but cooking, woodworking, bead design, and car maintenance.

  • Seats fill within minutes, waiting lists stretch into the hundreds.

  • What drives the change?

  • Roundtable invites you to find out.

  • And to most Chinese diners, hot water carries reassurance.

  • aids digestion, avoids stomach discomfort, and reflects long-standing health beliefs.

  • Now, some younger diners prefer cold lemon water because it signals freshness,

  • minimal calories, and maybe modern lifestyle culture.

  • What's behind the shift, and which one would you prefer?

  • But before that...

  • From classrooms to cornfields,

  • students across China are rolling up their sleeves and discovering what labor really means.

  • Why labor classes are booming and how they're helping students build skills,

  • gain real-world experience, and even spark innovation.